From my perspective, the timing of your cut is everything. I cannot simply be propagated at any random moment. My internal energy, or what you might call my "sap flow," follows the seasons. The ideal time is during my active growth phase, typically in the warm, bright days of late spring or early summer. At this time, my cells are dividing rapidly, and my hormonal signals are screaming "GROW!" This vitality is crucial for creating new roots. If you cut me when I'm dormant in the winter, my energy is conserved deep within my core, and I will lack the impetus to create a new root system. Look for a stem that is healthy, firm, and has several sets of leaves. It should not be the newest, softest growth (too fragile) or the oldest, woodiest part (too slow to root).
When you make the cut, please do so with precision and care. Use a sharp, sterilized blade—a knife or pruning shears wiped with rubbing alcohol. A clean, angled cut just below a leaf node (the small bump on my stem where a leaf emerges) is what I need. A ragged, crushed cut from dull scissors damages my vascular tissues, the very channels I need to draw up water and heal. This creates an open wound vulnerable to rot and disease, which can be a death sentence before I even have a chance. The leaf node is critical because that is where my concentrated packets of growth hormones, called auxins, reside. These hormones are the chemical messengers that will signal my cells to start producing roots.
Immediately after the cut, I am in a vulnerable state. I am losing moisture through my leaves but have no roots to replace it. To help me, you should remove the lower set of leaves, leaving one or two pairs at the top. This reduces the surface area from which I lose water. Some of you dip my cut end into a rooting hormone powder. From my cellular viewpoint, this is an excellent idea. This powder contains synthetic auxins, which give a powerful, concentrated signal to my stem: "MAKE ROOTS NOW!" It's not always strictly necessary, but it significantly boosts my chances and speeds up the process, helping me overcome the initial shock.
You must place me in a growing medium that provides the perfect balance of moisture and oxygen. Plain water might seem simple, but it's often not my favorite. While I can root in it, the roots that form are often weaker and different from those adapted to soil. More importantly, water lacks oxygen, and my stem can easily rot. A much better home for me is a light, airy mix, such as perlite, vermiculite, or a blend of peat and perlite. This medium should be moistened before I am placed in it. It holds just enough moisture to prevent me from drying out while allowing ample air pockets around my stem, giving my new root cells the oxygen they desperately need to form and breathe.
Once I'm potted, I enter a critical period. I need consistent warmth and bright, indirect light. Direct, hot sun will scorch my leaves and dry me out since I have no roots to support rapid transpiration. A warm spot, around 70-75°F (21-24°C), keeps my metabolic processes active. You can create a humid microenvironment by placing a clear plastic bag over my pot or using a propagation dome. This humidity drastically reduces water loss from my leaves, a lifesaving measure. Do not constantly tug on me to check for roots; this disturbs the delicate root initials forming at the node. Instead, look for signs of new top growth, which is the first visible signal that my underground work is succeeding.
